[@hatakekuro] [sub][@Savo][/sub] All Basil’s internal questioning aside, Basil soon had his Pokédex and soon thereafter he had his Pokémon as well. A Darumaka that he named Cecil. Kalmia looked on pretty happily as he got those things sorted out for himself. After all that, there was only one thing that was left to say. [color=82c6cf]‘You’re very welcome, Basil,’[/color] Kalmia said, looking proud enough. [color=82c6cf]‘And, now is perhaps the time I explain all that’s going on outside…’[/color] she considered, looking outside at where now a Sentret was flinging a bucket over at the opposing Budew for some reason. [color=82c6cf]‘You’re not the only trainer that I welcomed today. There’s also the guy, Cyril, right outside,’[/color] Kalmia said, gesturing diagonally outside the door to where that guy was currently engaged in a Pokémon battle with a blonde chick. Then, suddenly, he had two little brown-haired twins standing right underneath him. [color=8f5136]‘O, oooh! You got a Pokémon, too!’[/color] [color=a8694a]‘Lemme see, lemme see!’[/color] called the two twins, bouncing by him before Kalmia could pull them back. [color=82c6cf]‘And, er, these are my assistants, Timothy and Thomas, or Tim and Tom, say hi,’[/color] Kalmia said, looking like she’s not entirely sure about them. [color=8f5136]‘Heeeey! When you get rich, donate it all to us for making this possible, okay!’[/color] Tim said. [color=a8694a]‘Oh, and if you see our brother out there, beat him for us, so he can get stronger and beat you back eventually!’[/color] Tom added on. They were both grinning before they ran off somewhere, laughing like the little kids they are. [color=82c6cf]‘And this, of course, is…’[/color] Kalmia said, gesturing towards the last present person not currently in a Pokémon Battle. The spectacled man in a top-hat and suit with red ribbons pressed a button on his phone before he let his hand drift around his clothing and emerge on his right with no phone despite there having been no sign of the phone actually slipping into a pocket or anything. The hand then wandered up to his hat, which he tipped a bit while nodding to Basil. [color=EF284F]‘I am Jacques of the Elite Four. Pleased to make your acquaintance.’[/color] Jacques said, giving Basil a piercing look along with the kind(?) smile, analyzing the boy from top to bottom. [right][sub][sub][color=EF284F]‘So that’s how he turned out…’[/color][/sub][/sub][/right] [color=82c6cf]‘Turns out, the same way that I received the task and permission to distribute Pokédexes from Professor Oak, Jacques here…’[/color] Kalmia started… [color=EF284F]‘… negotiated that same permission from Professor Sycamore,’[/color] Jacques said. But, then he spread his hands in a “alas” gesture. [color=EF284F]‘We didn’t know that the other was doing it, and so we ended up with two different sets of Pokédexes for the same region. However, upon meeting up we’ve determined that the more the merrier, and our operations will run concurrently. In fact, I arrived here on the first day and suggested we’d have a bit of a friendly competition, Kalmia’s trainers against mine. Not one to fail tradition, I brought Chloe here to face off against Cyril, but…’[/color] Jacques sighed a little. [color=82c6cf]‘Oh? Have you run out of hopefuls for Basil?’[/color] Kalmia asked, looking mildly amused. [color=EF284F]‘Hardly. Excuse me, Professor Kalmia, I’m going to need to borrow your PC. To retrieve a new Pokémon, you understand. I had a couple to spare…’[/color] Jacques went over to the computer in Kalmia’s room, making a couple of clicks while Kalmia looked on curiously. Then, outside. There was a sudden noise of an engine. An engine on two wheels, a bike heading down the otherwise coze street of suburban Pureplain, the driver in a dark purple jacket and black helmet driving so fast and powerfully like knowing he would not be hitting anything. Then, way before actually arriving, the driver spun the vehicle, the back wheel swerving with intense power as the bike neared its destination. The whole vehicle broke speed as rubber burned with a screeching noise as the bike slowly came to a perfect stop right before the building. The bike-rider that had stopped right outside the Pokémon Lab slowly turned off the engine, put down the thing the bike will be leaning on for now with a quick kick and then stood up before the lab, taking off his helmet to reveal a moderately cocky-looking brown-haired older boy. [color=9e8d77]‘I’m here, Jacques. Now what’s up?’[/color] he asked, looking over the battle a bit first before walking by to get to the lab itself. [hider=this dude][center][url=http://i.imgur.com/xbE4eVz.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/xbE4eVz.jpg[/img][/url][/center][/hider] [color=EF284F]‘I’m happy you were able to come on such short notice, Rodger. Your dependability is remarkable,’[/color] Jacques said with a smirk. [color=9e8d77]‘You call, I come. Besides, I was only on Route 4. No biggie,’[/color] Rodger said with a shrug. [color=82c6cf]‘… Wha… Route 4... ?’[/color] Kalmia asked, having to look over at a wall that didn’t actually have a map as she considered. Because while Route 4 isn’t far, it isn’t THAT close… [color=EF284F]‘I was wondering if you’d like to have another Pokémon and battle another newcomer. Interested?’[/color] Jacques asked, and Rodger looked over at Basil, already having identified who it must have be. [color=9e8d77]‘This guy, eh,’[/color] Rodger said, looking over Basil, and… not immediately looking particularly impressed with what he was seeing. Basil, in the meantime, could probably more or less see the immediate tell-tale signs of a Bigfjord City resident in Rodger, and… well, there’s a reason why Bigfjord City has the Dark-type Gym; the streets are famously MUCH rougher than they are in Worldedge City where Basil grew up… it wouldn’t be unimaginable that this guy had a rough childhood too, but not for the same reasons as for Basil. … Rodger smirked. [color=9e8d77]‘Alright, I’m in. Now, what’s my Pokémon?’[/color] Rodger asked, and Jacques wasted no time grabbing and throwing over the Pokéball that had materialized from the PC, which Rodger effortlessly caught in mid-air. [color=82c6cf]‘Of course, that’s all up to if YOU want to have a battle,’[/color] Kalmia said, looking to Basil and 100% understanding if these two were being intimidating. [color=82c6cf]‘Jacques and Rodger have made their offer, and it’s entirely up to you if you’d like to accept or not. So? Would you like to have a battle?’[/color] And here’s where the yes/no choices would appear in a video-game… There was a crash as a Pokéball opened, and Rodger caught the creature that appeared on his arm. It was a half-a-meter tall baby bird, spreading its wings and staring up quizzically at Rodger, he smirked down at the little bird and its long, red top feather. [color=9e8d77]‘Well, well, would you look at you… Small and tough, and I know what you become. I like you. Welcome to the team, Ace,’[/color] Rodger told, looking proud of the glaring bird on his arm… [center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/b/bb/627Rufflet.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/wlvGqdh.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #627 – Rufflet, the Eaglet Pokémon. Known to bravely or recklessly challenge any enemy, no matter how strong it is. They’re natural-born warriors pick fight indiscriminately, even with their own parents, and grow stronger as they get injured. It uses its talons to crush berries or the shells of clams to get food.[/i][/color][/center] … And the Pokédex hadn’t stopped talking before Ace had pecked his own trainer. Rodger had recoiled, thrown out his arm so that Ace took flight and hovered in the middle of the room while Rodger stumbled back a bit before taking his own street-brawling fighting stance. [color=9e8d77]‘Oh, you wanna fight!? I can give you as much fight as you want…!’[/color] Roger told before Kalmia could run in to- [color=82c6cf]‘Not with each other! And even before that, DON’T FIGHT IN HERE!’[/color] Kalmia said, because they were still inside Kalmia’s lab here, yupp. Anyway. What is Basil’s reaction? __________________________ [@Gardevoiran] Vivia looked happy and proud as Skylar cheered for her, and then listened on as Skylar thought of what to do next. [color=b5e6e2]‘Well, we could get to Stillwood Village by ferry from here, but we could also cross Route 3 onto Route 4 to get to it,’[/color] Vivia suggested, but otherwise, sure. That works out nicely enough. Then that about heading to the Ancient Rocks. [color=b5e6e2]‘Alright, let’s go. I have been curious about those rocks, though I don’t think we’ll be able to unearth any mysteries, hah,’[/color] Vivia said with a slight laugh, but otherwise she was ready to set out. [color=b5e6e2]‘Torchic is cute, but I think I’ll see what comes my own way. Thanks for the suggestion, though,’[/color] Vivia said, appreciating the suggestion, but anyways. Now, off towards the top of Highhill Town first. [hider=Arriving to][center][h3]Ancient Rocks[/h3] [url=https://i.imgur.com/8uB5s4s.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/8uB5s4sl.jpg[/img][/url][/center] [right][sub][sub]Art by [url=https://www.deviantart.com/nicolasscola/art/The-Lost-Altar-825718049]nicolasscola[/url][/sub][/sub][/right] … Okay, the above image is a bit more dramatic than the real case. On top of the hills of Highhill is a large amount of strewn rocks, place mitch-matched around the grassy green top still under a blue sky, and a road leads to the center of the calm rocks where an especially large rock awaits. For the usual tourist, this is nothing but a landmark to look at and take photos off, the rocks will not budge and the mystery of what is written on them has not been solved for as long as man has known of them. What strange, mysterious language could it be that’s been written on these rocks? What do they mean? Humanity might never find out… So, there are five rocks standing in a circle around a center rock, which has two messages written on them… [hider=Rock 1 through 5][url=https://i.imgur.com/srtZUN9.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/srtZUN9l.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/HlTPVSW.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/HlTPVSWl.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/ngJRbny.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/ngJRbnyl.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/tw1RZ6j.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/tw1RZ6jl.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/KUGsEAj.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/KUGsEAjl.jpg[/img][/url][/hider] Ah, yes, such an utterly mysterious untranslatable text, of which kind has only previously been found in ancient ruins or caves of Hoenn or on the Sevii Islands… And of course, it’s not like, uh, someone who happens to be [i]almost blind[/i] would have some form of fundamental advantage translating the strange markings carved out of the rocks… Two more messages are written upon the middle rock. [hider=Middle Rock Messages][url=https://i.imgur.com/q4ghf3z.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/q4ghf3zl.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/WsZTrws.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/WsZTrwsl.jpg[/img][/url][/hider] How truly mysterious… … Skylar stepped on something. It was… a tablet with a bunch of these letters on it? [hider=tablet][url=https://i.imgur.com/JIq7iYQ.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/JIq7iYQl.jpg[/img][/url] [right][sub][sub]In case ancient Pokémon civs writing in braille and nobody understanding pushes your suspension of disbelief too much XD[/sub][/sub][/right][/hider] … So, what will Skylar do here? Of course, Vivia’s coming along and looking around with a curious expression on her face. Ancient rocks are relatively interesting, after all.[/hider] [hider=Highhill Town][center][h2]Highhill Town[/h2] [url=https://i.imgur.com/dsqK7cw.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/EiXydD2.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/AT5U8U9.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/5bvHMMV.jpg[/img][/url][/center] Highhill Town is a small, lively place that has seemingly stood atop this hill from time immemorial and never really changed. The atmosphere in Highhill Town is much fresher than surrounding places, the buildings are older and the work as honest as ever. The old town is populated by elders and younglings aplenty, and the town has a culture of their own. Plenty of Pokémon assist with the work, either as work-force or the animals that work is being done on. One usually only crosses Highhill Town on a trip to or from Pureplain City. Regardless, it is a place of beauty. The fields around it are cultivated by hard-working people and Pokémon while the lake to the east gleams in the sunshine as fishermen attend it. There are small roads of asphalt spiraling up the hill to lead to all the old buildings, and children playing around in stairs or nature is very common. It is said that a trainer praying at the nearby Silent Shrine will be blessed on their journey, so many travel to Highhill Town just for that. There’s also a set of very ancient rocks spread about town, pointing out towards the lake on top of the hill with some engravings. What they mean? Nobody knows. Also, Highhill Town is the residence of a certain Move Changer, whose abilities are sought by some new trainers. What he can do? Visit him to find out.[/hider] [hider=Suggestions to actions]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can still search for Pokémon in towns~[/i] 2. Talk. [i]In cities and towns, there are considerably more people one can talk to. Talking can give you info on local rumors and such.[/i] 3. Exit. [i]Exit the town to any of the connected areas.[/i] 4. Specify. [i]If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.[/i] 5. Trigger random event. [i]Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.[/i] 6. Notable Buildings. [i]Visit any of the facilities of the city![/i] 6.1. Pokémon Center. [i]Heal all your Pokémon.[/i] 6.2. PokéMart. [i]Go to a store and buy things.[/i] 6.3. Pokémon Gym. [i]???[/i] 6.4. Docks. [i]For fishermen or perhaps a ticket across Route 14.[/i] 6.5. Ancient Rocks. [i]Of completely unknown origin, ancient writing on them.[/i] 6.6. Ranch. [i]There are ranches around Highhill, if you stand to gain from them.[/i] 6.7. Move Changer. [i]We can guess from the name, but what can this man do?[/i] 6.8. Mayor’s House. [i]If you see reason to visit, it’s right by the rocks.[/i] [/hider] [i]Connected areas: [/i] Route 1. [i]To the south, is the common route of first journeys. Green and straight.[/i] Route 3. [i]To the north, the route to Rainrock or the Silent Shrine. A wet woodland.[/i] Route 14. [i]To the east, the lake known as the Dragon Lake, potentially for crossing.[/i] Path to Silent Shrine. [i]To the west, the Silent Forest and the path to the shrine within.[/i] [hider=Highhill Town, known Pokémon]Common: #10 Caterpie #16 Pidgey #66 Machop #532 Timburr Uncommon: #588 Karrablast #616 Shelmet Rare: #198 Murkrow (night)[/hider] __________________________ [@Eklispe] Florrie agreed, and then… then Claire showed up. Because why not. [@Rune_Alchemist] It wasn’t just Dawkin there. There was also this somewhat panicking young girl with long green hair whose eyes widened considerably by Claire and Ralia’s sudden appearance, looking to Dawkin to Claire with alarm until it became clear that the two knew each other in some capacity. [hider=Girl with Dawkin][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/aYdtILW.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/aYdtILWl.jpg[/img][/url][/center][/hider] [color=b2dbb2]‘O-oh, you two know one another. Um, I’m Florrie, Pokémon Trainer and assistant of Professor Dunstan here in town…’[/color] Florrie told, giving Claire a little nervous bow. Claire’s energy was making her nervous, clearly. There was also a Ninja Boy, who… [center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/d5/ORAS_Ninja_Boy.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/UY0BMcd.png[/img][/url][/center] [color=874144]‘Ah? Is there a battle? No battle? I can battle! What are we doing?’[/color] Alec asks, because he’s still here. For… some reason. He’s just been following Dawkin the whole way. Regardless. Dawkin can go get his Pokémon healed, and… [hider=nurse][url=http://i.imgur.com/9BmULgS.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/YHtjmDC.jpg[/img][/url] [color=f59a95]‘Hello, and welcome to the Pokémon Center. Would you like to rest your Pokémon?’[/color] Assumingly, yes. [color=f59a95]‘Okay. I’ll take your Pokémon for a few seconds, then.’[/color] She’d then accept the Pokéballs and put them into the machine, and… [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZugkxi_b8o][center][i]Di, di, di-do-da![/i][/center][/url] [color=f59a95]‘Thank you for waiting. We’ve restored your Pokémon to full health.’[/color] She says as she hands the Pokéballs back. She then bows to her customer and gives a friendly smile. [color=f59a95]‘We hope to see you again!’[/color][/hider] [color=brown]‘A bunch of Ancient Pokémon disappeared from one of the warehouses! One of the thieves was seen, and it was apparently Collin, one of the assistants at the Pokémon Lab in town! Because of that, Kristy took a bunch of miners and confronted Leila and the scientists about it, and it looked like it was about to be a fight but then some form of echoing sound came from the desert. Instead, they teamed up and are now searching for clues together! Kristy and the miners are having their Ground-Pokémon look for enemies underground, Leila’s Flying-types are checking the air and Psychic types from the lab are looking for signs of Teleporting! Lovely to see them cooperating instead of being at one another’s throats all the time…’[/color] And that was what Dawkin could get himself told. Dawkin and Claire can now decide what they feel like doing. [hider=Raremine Town][center][h2]Raremine Town[/h2] [url=https://i.imgur.com/saVwpPm.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/rhaACBx.png[/img][/url][/center] [right][sub][sub][sub]no cat-eared girls here, sorry[/sub][/sub][/sub][/right] Raremine Town is a moderately large, bright town on the edge of the only desert in Isson. By some twist, the largest mineral deposits in the land is located right under the desert, making it an attractive place to build mines. From that, Raremine Town naturally sprung into being as a merchant town on the edge of habitability from where the mineral could then be delivered to the rest of Isson. The temperature is hot, sun blazing down on this land where plains slowly become desert, the atmosphere dry and unfriendly… yet, life and trees blossoms among the buildings of Raremine Town. The ground is still the grass from the Vast Plains, with buildings on top of them. The modern houses stand tall with plenty of architectural skill put into them, tools for building and living sold inside the houses. Everywhere, one can see workers walking about, but they’re happy workers, with their families living close at hand in the town and with the finest equipment available. Oh, and of course, plenty of Pokémon that assist with the finding of ores and such! The trees, which appear to have been planted and grown all over town by the residents themselves, gives plenty of homes for local Pokémon to live.[/hider] [hider=Suggestions to actions, Raremine Town]1. Find Pokémon. [i]Can still search for Pokémon in cities~[/i] 2. Talk. [i]In cities, there are considerably more people one can talk to. Talking can give you info on local rumors and such.[/i] 3. Exit. [i]Exit the town to any of the connected areas.[/i] 4. Specify. [i]If you specify what you want to do, the GM will take it into account and tell the result.[/i] 5. Trigger random event. [i]Force the GM to use his imagination to make a scenario for you.[/i] 6. Notable Places. [i]Visit any of the places in the city![/i] 6.1. Pokémon Center. [i]Heal all your Pokémon.[/i] 6.2. PokéMart. [i]Go to a store and buy things.[/i] 6.3. Pokémon Gym. [i]Kristy’s Minor-League Ground-type “Gym”.[/i] 6.4. Desert Miner’s Hangout. [i]The workers of the Desert Mine live around here. They can give tips about the desert![/i] 6.5. Research Lab. [i]For archaeologists, those who want to talk to Dunstan and those who want to resurrect fossils.[/i] 6.6. Stone Store. [i]Where all the stones of the Desert Mines or Frozen Cave eventually end up! Lots of evolutionary and other kinds of stones![/i] 6.7. Bug Garden. [i]A garden within which bugs thrive. Vivillons can be hired here for tracking down the Mythic Oasis![/i] 6.8. Warehouses. [i]Because the things they mine here needs somewhere to be stored. This includes Ancient Pokémon, apparently, as some of the warehouses are pens.[/i] 7. Familiar Faces; Claire and Dawkin. [i]You’re in the same town.[/i] 8. Commotion. [i]There seems to be a search going on. Want to partake for some reason?[/i][/hider] [i]Connected areas: [/i] Route 6. [i]The Vast Plains open up to the north of Raremine. The shorter paths lead to Route 8 and 16, while west far enough leads to Lakewatch Town.[/i] Route 7. [i]The single rocky desert of Isson, it connects to the Desert Mines, the Old Tombs and to the Mythic Oasis.[/i] [hider=Raremine Town, known Pokémon]Common: #290 Nincada #529 Drilbur #664 Scatterbug Uncommon: Rare: [/hider]